NESREA Launches Cooperative Strategy for Waste Workers

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), led by Director General Innoc Barikor, has unveiled a cooperative-driven framework aimed at integrating informal waste workers into Nigeria's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system. This initiative is part of efforts to strengthen environmental sustainability and promote economic inclusion.

The framework, designed by NESREA's Assistant Director Nwamaka Ejiofor, seeks to improve participation in Nigeria's waste management ecosystem by providing informal waste collectors, recyclers, and sorters with access to legal recognition, financial inclusion, and social welfare opportunities. The model includes a cooperative passport framework to facilitate access to financial literacy programs, health insurance, and enterprise support, helping workers transition into the formal economy.

Peter Ayim, Chief Steward of NEScoop, emphasized that this cooperative-led model is a practical pathway toward building an inclusive circular economy in Nigeria. The framework aims to address challenges faced by informal waste workers, including economic vulnerability and poor safety conditions, drawing inspiration from successful models in countries like Brazil, Colombia, India, and South Africa.